Railroad ballast car body and ballast spreader mechanism



June 27, 1961 H. F. FLOWERS RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER MECHANISM Filed July 9. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMTAW' am fl June 27, 1961 H. F. FLOWERS RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9. 1953 IN VEN TOR.

a H n. a, M m h June 27, 1961 H. F. FLOWERS RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER MECHANISM Filed July 9. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 27, 1961 H. F. FLOWERS RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 9. 1953 INVENTOR. 1 2 1972 ryfirZ'j Zon enS BY 7 7 m, M TM June 27, 1961 H. F. FLOWERS 2,989,930

RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER MECHANISM Filed July 9. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 5H] z s e June 27, 1961 H. F. FLOWERS 2,989,930

RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER MECHANISM Filed July 9. 1953 s Shets-Sheet e R k ft W N I L LE' m 8 w INVENTOR.

U] 1 2% 92 ryf'riflan e r5 r1 BY MW, wfigmnwmx nited States Patent Ofifice 2,989,930 Patented June 27, 1961 2,989,930 RAILROAD BALLAST CAR BODY AND BALLAST SPREADER NEECHANISM Henry Fort Flowers, Differential Steel Car C0., Findlay, Ohio Filed July 9, 1953, Ser. No. 367,031 12 Claims. (Cl. 105-248) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a railroad car for carrying, unloading and spreading ballast between the rails of a railroad.

An object of the invention is to provide a multiple hopper ballast car of all welded construction and with a hopper discharge opening between spaced box section side sills which opening is controlled by power actuated doors individually controlled for variable opening widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballast distributing car of the above type with a spreading blade disposed at the center of the car between the hoppers wherein the height of the blade above the rails is controlled by power actuating mechanism. Among the objects of the invention is to provide a single spreading blade located centrally between two longitudinally arranged hopper compartments and effective to spread the ballast from whichever compartment is at that time in advance of the central blade.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ballast car with a spreading blade which can be swung to various angles for spreading the ballast toward one side or the other of the track when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ballast distributing and spreading car of the above type wherein individual hydraulic motors are provided for opening and closing the doors, for raising and lowering the spreading blade and for swinging said blade, which motors are remotely controlled from a single station at one end of the car.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 1 is a side view showing in side elevation a portion of a ballast carrying car embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the car shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, showing one of the hoppers and the doors associated therewith, also the operating motors for the doors with the doors in partially open position;

FiGURE 4 is a transverse vertical section showing the doors in wide open position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar sectional view showing the doors closed;

FIGURE 6 is a view in side elevation showing the spreading blade, the means for raising and lowering the blade and the means for shifting the blade to diiferent set angular relation to the track and also the latching means for holding the blade raised when not in use;

FIGURE 7 is a view in elevation and partly in section and taken transversely of the car body on line 77 of FIGURE 6 and showing the blade lifting and angular shifting means in part;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view through the hydraulic lift motor;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the universal connection between the cylinder of one of the hydraulic motors and the supporting bracket therefor;

FIGURE 10 is a view in perspective showing the upper end of the cylinder carrying the spreader blade and also the connection with the hydraulic cylinder for the oscillation of the blade;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of one of the doors and the means for supporting the same, and

FIGURE 12 is a schematic view showing the several motors, the pipe connections from the motors to the valve assembly controlling the individual motors, the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic fluid reservoir.

Railroad ballast cars of earlier design featured car bodies with bottom doors opened by hand to drop ballast in piles outside of or between the rails. It was a common practice to spread the ballast by pushing a railroad tie placed across the track and ahead of the leading wheels of a railroad car. After the ballast was spread level with the top of the rails the track was lifted with jacks and the ballast tamped in place under the ties.

The present invention is directed to a ballast carrying car of large capacity with smooth interior sloping sides and ends and with two bottom opening hoppers. Each hopper is equipped with two longitudinal doors hydraulically actuated. The width of the ballast deposited on the track and its location between the rails is determined by the extent of opening of the doors. For rapid and effective spreading of the ballast a spreading blade is carried at the middle of the car between the two hoppers. This blade is lifted and lowered hydraulically to the desired height relative to the rails. To assist in spreading more material to one side of the track or for banking on curves hydraulic power cylinders are provided to swing the spreader blade through a range of 45 each side of the central position. For a better understanding of the invention the illustrated embodiment of the invention will be described more in detail.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a portion of a railroad ballast car 1 mounted on conventional trucks one of which is illustrated at 2. The underframe 3 of the car, mounted on the trucks, is divided into two box section side sills 4, 4. By eliminating the usual through center sill it is possible to provide a large opening at the center of the car through which the ballast may be discharged. The body of the car is fabricated from metal plates preferably by welding. The body includes two hopper arrangements, one at each end of the car. The body has two top side sheets 5, 5 reenforced along the top edge by channel members 6 welded to the side sheets to prevent the sheets from bowing outward. The hoppers are formed by sloping side sheets 7, 7, an end sloping sheet 8 and a center sloping sheet 9. These sheets are welded together and are reenforced at intervals by steel angles 10 and 11. There is also an angle iron 12 extending across the end sheet and connected to the steel angle 10. Transverse angle irons 14, 14' connect the side angles 10, intermediate the hoppers. There is likewise an angle iron 13 extending across the end sheet and Welded to the end sheet and to the steel angle 11. There is also an angle iron 14 extending across the center end which is welded to the steel angle 11.

The sloping sheets 8, 8 are welded to the upper edges of the spaced side sills 4, 4. Depending from the lower edge portions of the side sills are vertical side plates 15, 15 which are reenforced by plates 16, 16. The sloping center sheet 9 and also the end sheet 8 have sloping extensions which extend to the bottom edge portion of the sills 4, 4 from which they are provided with vertical depending end walls 17, 17 forming the discharge opening from the hopper.

For controlling the opening between the vertical side walls 15, 15 and end walls 17, 17 are doors 18, 18. These doors are alike and the description of the mounting and operating means for one will answer for the other. The door includes a curved plate carried by segment plates 19. Extending across from one side sill 4 to the other is a plate 20 which is welded to the underside of the side sills. Welded to the end walls forming the hopper open- 3 ing are plates 21. A pivot pin 22 is mounted in these plates 20 and 21. Welded to the segment plate of the door is a collar 23. This collar and the segment plate are mounted on the pivot pin. The mounting of the other end of the door is the same as that described. The door 18 extends beyond the segment plates 19 and a reinforcing plate 24 for said door is attached thereto.

A hydraulic motor is employed for opening and closing the door. The motor includes a cylinder 25 pivoted at 26 to bracket arms 27, 27. A piston rod 28 is associated with the cylinder, and is moved in and out of the cylinder by fluid pressure. This piston is pivoted at 29 to the door. The fluid for operating the piston in the cylinder 25 is directed to one or the other end of the cylinder so that the door may be positively opened and positively closed and also positively moved to a set position between opening and closing.

The door at the opposite side of the opening through which the ballast is discharged is of like construction and is operated in the same manner and similar reference letters have been applied thereto. The bottom ends of the plates 17, 17 are curved to conform to the curvature of the door. When the doors are in closed position as shown in FIGURE the doors Will meet at the center of the opening and completely close the opening. When the doors are partially opened as shown in FIGURE 3 then the ballast delivered through the opening will have a spread indicated in broken lines that is well within the rails indicated at 30. When the doors are in full open position as indicated in FIGURE 4 then the spread will be practically from rail to rail as indicated in broken lines in said figure. The doors are independently controlled by the hydraulic motors and one may be opened without opening the other and thus the ballast distributed nearer one rail than the other.

At the center of the car between the side sills 4, 4 and under the intermediate sloping sheets 9, 9 is placed a supporting and guiding means for ballast spreading blade 31 which is for the purpose of bringing the pile of ballast discharged through the forward hopper opening to a level with the bottom of the blade. This ballast spreading blade is a heavy steel plate extending well outside of the rails 30, 30 on which the ballast car runs. Welded to the spaced side sills 4, 4 is a guiding cylinder or member 32. Disposed within this guiding cylinder 32 is a blade supporting cylinder or member 33. The blade supporting cylinder or member is slotted at its lower end and mounted in the said slots and extending diametrically across the cylinder or member are blade supporting plates 34, 34 one of which is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 7. These plates are welded to the lower end of the supporting cylinder or member 33. The spreading blade 31 is placed between these supporting plates and is retained therein by a pin 35 passing through said plates 34, 34. There are reenforcing plates 36, 36 welded to the inner face of the supporting cylinder 33 and also welded to the plates 34 for strengthening the supporting for the spreading blade. There is also a plate 37 secured to the upper sides of the center sills 4, 4 for supporting the guiding cylinder or member 32 and a similar plate 37 at the lower side of the sills. The upper end of the blade supporting cylinder 33 is closed by a plate 38. Likewise, the lower end of the blade supporting cylinder or member is closed by a plate 39 which is, of course, slotted to permit the insertion of the blade 3-1 and the plates 34.

The blade supporting cylinder or member 33 for the spreader blade is raised and lowered in the guiding cylinder or member 32 by a hydraulic motor which includes a cylinder 40. Mounted in the cylinder is a piston 41 to which a piston rod 42 is connected. Fluid is directed beneath the piston for raising the blade through the pipe connection 43 and alternatively fluid is directed to the upper side of the piston through the pipe connection 44. The motor is of the usual type, that is, when fluid is directed to one side of the piston it is exhausted from the other side. Further description of the hydraulic motor for raising and lowering the blade is not thought necessary. At the lower end of the piston rod is a sleeve 45 in which are located bushings 46 of the usual type. Mounted on the upper end plate 38 of the blade supporting cylinder or member 33 are vertically arranged plates 47 which plates are welded to the plate 38 of the supporting cylinder or member. A rod 48 is mounted in the sleeve 45 and extends into slots in the plates 47, 47. The slot is elongated horizontally so that the rod contacting the upper and lower sides of the slot will raise and lower the cylinder or member '33. Lateral thrusts on the spreader blade, however, will be taken by the guiding cylinder or member 32 and will not be transmitted to the piston of the lifting cylinder. When fluid is directed to the lower side of the piston 41 the blade will be raised and when fluid is directed to the upper side it will be lowered. By cutting off the supply of fluid the piston may be stopped at any desired position so that the spreader blade may be placed in contact with the rails or raised slightly therefrom and the blade may be raised to its full height when desired for transportation.

Power means is provided for shifting the blade angularly about the axis of the supporting cylinder or member 33. Attached to the reenforcing plates 14 extending across the body of the car is a bracket 49. Spaced above the bracket 49 is a bracket 50 which is welded to the body of the car. Connecting the brackets are plates 51, one of which is shown in FIGURES 7 and 9. Associated with the plates 5-1, 51 is a universal supporting means for the cylinder 52 of one of the hydraulic motors for angularly shifting the spreading blade. Said cylinder is mounted so that it may oscillate about a horizontal axis 53 and also about a vertical axis 54. Associated with this cylinder 52 is a piston rod 55. The piston rod is pivoted at 56 to a block 57 (FIGS. 2 and 10) which can turn about a vertical axis. This block is mounted on the end plate 38 of the blade supporting cylinder or member 33. The piston rod can turn on the horizontal pivot 56 of the rod and the block itself can turn on the vertical pivot 59. This permits the piston as it moves into and out of the cylinder to swing the blade to different set positions. It is preferably limited to a swinging movement through an angle of 45 as indicated in the broken line position shown in FIGURE 2. The spreading blade may be shifted to the position A, A or to the position B, B. This enables the blade to be so set as to spread the ballast to either side of the road bed between the tracks. There is a second hydraulic motor similar in construction to the one just described and connected to the diametrically opposite side of the supporting cylinder or member 33. Like reference numerals have been applied thereto and further de scription thereof is not thought to be necessary.

Means is provided for latching the supporting cylinder or member for the spreader blade in raised position for transport. This is accomplished by attaching to the plates 47, 47, a horizontally disposed plate 60. This plate is preferably circular in shape. A plate 61 extending from the steel angle 14' associated with one hopper to a steel angle 14' associated with the other hopper serves as a support for the cylinder 40 of the hydraulic motor which raises and lowers the spreader blade. Also depending from this plate are brackets 62 and 63. Mounted in the bracket 62 is a latch rod 64. This latch rod is pivoted to an arm 65 carried by a latch tube 66. There is a similar latch rod 64 at the other side of the cylinder or member carrying the spreader blade. This rod is mounted in the bracket 63 and is pivoted to an arm 65 mounted on a tube 66. There is a depending arm on the tube at the left as shown in FIGURE 7 and an upstanding arm carried by the tube 66 at the right of this figure. Connecting these arms is a link 67. The latch tubes 66 are mounted in brackets 66 carried by the body of the car. One of the latch tubes 66 is' extended to the front important for two reasons.

end of the car and has a handle attached thereto by which the operator can oscillate the tubes and move the latch rods inwardly or retract the same. When the spreader blade cylinder 33 is raised to its upper limit then the plate 69 which is attached to and moves with this cylinder is above the latch rods and the operator can move the latch rods inwardly beneath the plate and thus support the spreader blade in its raised position. The ability to swing the spreader blade 31 at an angle is One is to allow spreading of the ballast so that most of the ballast will go to the side of the track needing the same. The other reason is that the spreader blade is too long to come within the railroad car clearance limits when positioned straight across but when swung to one side, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the blade will come clearly within the maximum width limit of the American Railroads.

FIGURE 12. shows diagrammatically the several cylinders or members and associated pistons which have been described above and also the pipe lines leading from the cylinders to the valve assembly disposed at one end of the car. This valve assembly 68 consists of a series of manually operated units, and each unit is of the usual hydraulic valve construction. A hydraulic pump 69 directs fluid under pressure to a port 70 in the valve as sembly which supplies each unit with fluid under pressure. The exhaust fluid is returned to the valve assembly and the exhaust port 71 serves all of the units. This port 71 is connected by a pipe line to a port 72 leading to the supply tank 73. The hydraulic motor is preferably operated by an air motor which is in turn operated by the compressed air on the train line. The valve units 74 and 75 are connected to the cylinders 25 of the motors controlling the opening and closing of the doors at one end of the car. These control units may be operated simultaneously to open the doors or partially open the doors and to close the doors. Likewise, one door may be opened while the other remains closed. There are valve units 76 and 77 which are connected to the hydraulic motors 25 controlling the doors at the other end of the car. The cylinder of the motor 40 for raising and lowering the spreader blade is controlled by the valve unit 78. The cylinders for the motors 52 which shift the blade angularly are both controlled by the same valve unit indicated at 79.

A typical operating cycle of the ballast car is described as follows. The car, with the spreader blade 31 raised and latched in its raised position and also swung 45 degrees for reasons of width clearance, is brought to a position under a loading chute or next to a loading shovel. The hopper doors are closed through the manual operation of the control valves therefor and the body is loaded with ballast. A locomotive takes the car or cars to a point where additional ballast is needed and stops the train. The hydraulic pump is started and the latches holding the spreader blade raised withdrawn. The valve 78 is then placed in float position allowing the spreader blade to drop to rails 30. By manually shifting this valve 78 the spreader blade can be positioned at a desired height above the rails. By manipulating the valve 79 the spreader blade can be shifted to the desired angle. Either the valves 74 and 75 or the valves 76 and 77 will be opererated to open the doors that will be ahead of the spreader blade 31 while the ballast is being distributed and the ballast laid and spread as required.

It is obvious that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A railroad ballast car body comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a pair of doors therefor, a longitudinal car sill on each side of said opening, a guide cylinder supported vertically between said sills rearwardly of the discharge opening, a supporting member carried in the guide cylinder, power means on the car body for adjusting the supporting member vertically and a vertical spreading blade suspended transversely from the supporting member for movement into a position 'below the level of said discharge opening.

2. A railroad ballast car body comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a pair of doors therefor, a longitudinal car sill on each side of said opening, a guide cylinder supported vertically between said sills rearwardly of the discharge opening, a supporting member carried in the guide cylinder, power means on the car body for adjusting the supporting member vertically, a latch bar on the car body for holding the supporting member in elevated position, power means on the car body for shifting the supporting member angularly in the horizontal plane and a vertical spreading blade suspended transversely from the supporting member for movement into a position below the level of said discharge opening.

3. A railroad ballast car body comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a pair of doors therefor, a longitudinal car sill on each side of said opening, a guide cylinder supported vertically between said sills rearwardly of the discharge opening, a supporting member carried in the guide cylinder, power means on the car body for adjusting the supporting member vertically and a horizontal plate carried by the supporting member, a pair of slidable latch bars carried by the car body, means for advancing the bars beneath the plate when the supporting member is in elevated position, power means on the car body for shifting the supporting member angularly in the horizontal plane and a vertical spreading blade suspended transversely from the supporting member for movement into a position below the level for said discharge opening.

4. A railroad ballast car body comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a pair of doors therefor, a longitudinal car sill on each side of said opening, a vertical guide cylinder supported between said sills rearwardly of the discharge opening, a supporting cylinder journaled within said guide cylinder, power means on the car body for adjusting the supporting cylinder vertically, power means on the car body for shifting the supporting cylinder angularly in the horizontal plane and a vertical spreading blade suspended transversely from the supporting cylinder for movement into a position below the level of said discharge opening.

5. A railroad ballastoar body comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a pair of doors therefor, a longitudinal car sill on each side of said opening, a vertical guide cylinder supported between said sills rearwardly of the discharge opening, a supporting cylinder journaled within said guide cylinder, power means on the car body for adjusting the supporting cylinder vertically, a hydraulic cylinder pivotally carried on the car body on one side of the supporting cylinder, a piston connecting the hydraulic cylinder eccentrically to the supporting cylinder, and a vertical spreading blade suspended transversely from the supporting cylinder for movement into a position below the level of said discharge opening.

6. A railroad ballast car body comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a pair of doors therefor, a longitudinal car sill on each side of said opening, a vertical guide cylinder supponted between said sills rearwardly of the discharge opening, a supporting cylinder journaled within said guide cylinder, power means on the car body for adjusting the supporting cylinder vertically, power means on the car body for shifting the supporting cylinder angularly in the horizontal plane and a vertical spreading blade suspended diametrically from the supporting cylinder for movement into a position below the level of said discharge opening.

7. In a wheeled vehicle having a frame and a bottomdischarge hopper, a fixed guiding cylinder mounted on the frame adjacent the hopper, a supporting cylinder journalled within the guiding cylinder for vertical reciprocation and oscillation in a horizontal plane, a spreading blade carried bythe -supporting cylinder, a horizontally disposed plate attached to the supporting cylinder, and latching means carried by the said vehicle frame for supporting engagement with said plate.

8. A railroad ballast car body comprising two hoppers disposed longitudinally thereof, each hopper having an axial longitudinally extending discharge opening, an independent swinging door carried on the hopper on each opposite side of each opening, a fixed guiding member supported vertically on the frame between said hoppers, a supporting member journalled within the guiding member for vertical reciprocation and oscillation in a horizontal plane, and a vertical spreading blade adjustably suspended transversely from said supporting member and movable downwardly below the level of said discharge openings.

9. A railroad ballast car body comprising two hoppers disposed longitudinally thereof, each hopper having an axial longitudinally extending discharge opening, an independent swinging door carried on the hopper on each opposite side of each opening, power operated means on the hoppers for independently and selectively operating the doors, a fixed guiding member supported vertically on the frame between said hoppers, a supporting member journalled within the guiding member for vertical reciprocation and oscillation in a horizontal plane, and a vertical spreading blade adjustably suspended transversely from said supporting member and movable downwardly'below the level of said discharge openings.

10. A railroad ballast car body comprising two hoppers disposed longitudinally thereof, each hopper having an axial longitudinally extending discharge opening, an independent swinging door carried on the hopper on each opposite side of each opening, power operated means on the hoppers for independently and selectively operating the doors, a fixed guiding member supported vertically on the frame between said hoppers, a supporting member journalled within the guiding member for vertical reciprocation and oscillation in a horizontal plane, and a transverse vertical spreading blade suspended from said supporting member and power means for adjusting the supporting member vertically to bring the blade into a position below the level of said discharge openings.

' 11. A railroad ballast car body comprising two hoppers disposed longitudinally thereof, each hopper having an axiallongitudinally extending discharge opening, an independent swinging door carried on the hopper on each of said discharge openings and a latch on the car body for holding the blade in elevated position.

12. A railroad ballast car body comprising two hoppers disposed longitudinally thereof, each hopper having an axial longitudinally extending discharge opening, an independent swinging door carried on the hopper on each opposite side of each opening, power operated means for independently and selectively operating the doors, a fixed guiding member supported vertically on the frame between said hoppers, a supporting member journalled Within the guiding member for vertical reciprocation and oscillation in a horizontal plane, a transverse vertical spreading blade suspended from said supporting member, power means for adjusting the supporting member vertically to bring the blade into a position below the level of said discharge openings, and power means on the car body for shifting the blade angularly in the horizontal plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,194 Calferty Jan. 10, 1911 404,793 Miller June 4, 1889 404,794 Moats June 4, 1889 849,079 McMahill Apr. 2, 1907 849,854 Proctor et al. Apr. 9, 1907 1,046,262 Cafierty et al. Dec. 3, 1912 1,054,913 Fitts Mar. 4, 1913 1,058,959 Galivan Apr. 15, 1913 1,155,429 Mallard Oct. 5, 1915 1,307,428 Wright June 24, 1919 1,321,771 Rahmer Nov. 11, 1919 1,555,594 Macloskie Sept. 29, 1925 1,721,711 Pneuman July 23, 1929 2,237,299 Benbow et al. Apr. 8, 1941 2,255,345 Baily Sept. 9, 1941 2,479,800 Williams Aug. 23, 1949 2,679,809 Beltman et al. June 1, 1954 2,748,509 Brown June 5, 1956 

